Included in TIME's 50 Best Inventions of 2009 is a device developed by one of our own, Wisconsin Doctoral Student - Adam Wilson. The device monitors brain activity through electrodes allowing someone to "tweet" by just thinking. Read more here
It has long been debated whether or not marijuana smoking enhances creativity. My post here is not to argue for one side or another, but to present two studies that find opposing results.
The first article from Psychiatric Quarterly did a study on 316 college students who reported their marijuana use (or not) measuring creativity, authoritarianism, anxiety, social desirability, and acquiescence. They found that With increased frequency of marijuana usage, creativity and 'adventuresomeness' scores increased significantly, while authoritarianism scores decreased significantly.
The second article from the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found very different results. However, they only tested 16 college males, and were actually given cookies with THC or placebo before they were tested. This raises some skepticism about their results from their small sample size, and whether or not subjects should be tested while high or sober.
There are numerous more articles out there, and no conclusion has been reached. Decide for yourself!
A few days ago I came across an article in Business Week that discussed the relationship between failure and innovation. The article was written by G. Michael Maddock and Raphael Louis Vitón of Maddock Douglas- a company that invents, brands, and markets products "for companies driven by innovation."
The article not only discusses the fact that failure is often a prerequisite to innovation, but also offers advice to employees who want to get their co-workers and companies on-board with their innovative ideas.
Check out this encouraging article: http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/nov2009/ca20091124_903257.htm
